Mockney repost
I panic when I have to talk to anyone that doesn't work in an office, but particularly with tradespeople.

So for some reason I'll always change my normal accent (something between Boris Johnson and Oscar Wilde) for an Essex/cockney effort -
"Blaady freezin' innit? - to demonstrate that I am just like them, and could probably fit the kitchen/clean the chimney/attach a shelf myself if I wasn't so damned busy duckin and divin makin a few quid here and there.

This came undone the other day [edit: other year] when someone came round to fix the boiler and I accidentally got the wrong voice and spoke in Australian.

"Hi, I've come to look at the boiler".
"Noice one! Cam on in, mate! Can I getcha a cap of tea?"

Even in my own ears it sounded bad, but I had to keep it up all the time he was there as it was too late to change back to my normal voice.

"Oi dunno mate, it just sorrta stopped wurkin'!"
( browser still relating boring anecdotes into a void on, Fri 13 Aug 2010, 9:49, 9 replies)

Ah ha ha ha ha
Did a dingo eat ya baby?
(oneinthepink is at your cervix m'lady, Fri 13 Aug 2010, 9:52, closed)

y'know
that really happened.
( Sextant goes to him is emotionally erect, on this day, Fri 13 Aug 2010, 17:44, closed)

I always do that
'Dumb' my accent down or 'posh' it up depending on who I'm with (and I have the builders in as we speak, cor luvva duck).

My husband is FAR worse at it though and has no idea he's doing it and will take on someone's accents and foibles when they talk, totally mimicking them. How he hasn't been punched I do not know.

It's meant to actually be a form of flattery to the person you are speaking to but it sounds like an insult when I hear it coming from my mouth.
(Chicken Little This signature has been left blank., Fri 13 Aug 2010, 9:59, closed)

s'normal
called code swichting. Gets really interesting when you live in a multilingual society, and start switching languages depending on situation. Among other things it is used to increase/decrease social distance.

People who are good communicators do it better. Poor communicators might not even realise it exists.
( Sextant goes to him is emotionally erect, on this day, Fri 13 Aug 2010, 17:46, closed)

I think i am guilty of this as well
They've tackled this subject on peep show a couple of times. Mark with the security guards and Jeremy with the plumber...genius! I'd post the clips for you but Chan4 are assholes when it comes to their programmes.
(bROKEN aRROW PUA HVI Master, Fri 13 Aug 2010, 10:07, closed)

Easily done
I think the Aussie accent is particularly easy to slip in to. I used to work with a lot of Aussies and Kiwis - more than once they thought *I* was from down under.
(Neil_E_There didn't the Aussies used to be good at cricket?, Fri 13 Aug 2010, 10:13, closed)

I have absolutely no idea how to deal with tradesmen
I've tried chummying up to them with cups of tea (always milk and TWO sugars...ALWAYS) and i've tried being stern "When will this be completed?"

Neither work. They always do a shit job and go over budget.
( Colonel Dracula Two manky hookers and a racist dwarf, Fri 13 Aug 2010, 10:16, closed)

I do this!!!
I'll wander out of Costa ("good day miss, a mocha frescato and one of your delightful apricot pastries, if you would be so good.") and bump into my mate the tattooist ("ere, yew fat fackin caaant! I love gettin pissed an' shaggin' burds me!") and feel like a bi-directional class traitor.
(NoveltyCondomHead Clanks Wams., Fri 13 Aug 2010, 10:45, closed)

I ended up with a scottish accent
Similar thing happened to me, I went along to meeting of some club I'd joined at university, and for some inexplicable reason started talking in a scottish accent, no idea why, had to go through with it for the whole night.

Didn't bother going back any more meetings after that.
( flapmeister knows where your mum lives, Fri 13 Aug 2010, 13:28, closed)